buddhist-deities-and-spirits

"Indra was the god of the thunderstorm that puts an end to the oppressive summer heat and opens the rainy season.... However, the Buddha arrived just in time for Indra to play a role in his career. it was Indra himself who persuaded the freshly awakened Shakyamuni to start preaching his newfound path. Buddhist monks then spread the cult of Indra to foreign lands as far as Japan. Indra’s weapon, the lightning or vajra, became the emblem of instant Enlightenment. The sought-after “Self-nature” (Chinese zixing) is present all the time, deep in all of us; but when we embark on the path of meditation and finally awaken to it, it strikes like lightning."

"Such as to weep are fain may still lament the dead, Weep not, O sage, ’Tis vain to weep the wise have said. If by our tears we might prevail against the grave, Thus would we all unite our dearest ones to save."

"Originally, when Sakka was still a human being, he generously made offerings, led a pure life, and his mind was faithful. With a faithful mind he made offerings to the poor, renunciants, brāhmaṇas, and so on. When he made offerings, he offered drinks and refreshments, all kinds of hard and soft food, all kinds of garlands, all kinds of fragrance, incense, perfume, riches, and bedding. For this reason the gods called him Sakka."

"Happy life is theirs who live on remnants left from charity: Praise in this world is their lot, and in the next felicity."

"I believe that for restraining the foolish silent patience is the best. When extreme hatred or anger or rage is suffered patiently, the other party will naturally calm down. Those without anger, without violence those are noble ones They are disciples of noble ones; those one should always befriend. For those filled with hatred and anger, their hatred is an obstacle heavy as a mountain. But if, at a time of hatred and anger, one can restrain oneself even a little, then that is called good karma like reining in an unruly horse."

"I am extremely busy with heavenly affairs. I have both personal things to do and also things concerning the gods. I have forgotten what I was taught. Formerly, Maudgalyāyana, there was a battle with the demons (asura). On the very day the fighting broke out, the gods were victorious and the demons retreated. I personally went to fight at that time. Soon after the victory I returned as leader of the gods and took my seat in the uppermost heavenly palace named Vaijayanta Palace. The palace was given this name on account of our victory in battle."

"Impermanent, alas, are compounded things. It is the nature of things to arise and pass away. Having come into existence they cease. Their appeasement is the highest bliss."

"When the false Brethren, bowl in hand, in one robe clad, shall choose Tonsured the plough to follow, then the Black Hound I will loose. When Sisters of the Order shall in single robe be found, Tonsured, yet walking in the world, I will let loose the Hound. What time ascetics, usurers, protruding the upper lip, Foul-toothed and filthy-haired shall be—the Black Hound I'll let slip. When brahmins, skilled in sacred books and holy rites, shall use Their skill to sacrifice for pelf, the Black Hound shall go loose. Whoso his parents now grown old, their youth now come to an end, Would not maintain, although he might, gainst him the Hound I'll send. Who to his parents now grown old, their youth now come to an end, Cries, Fools are ye! gainst such as he the Black Hound I will send. When men go after others' wives, of teacher, or of friend, Sister of father, uncle's wife, the Black Hound I will send. When shield on shoulder, sword in hand, full-armed as highway men They take the road to kill and rob, I'll loose the Black Hound then. When widows' sons, with skin groomed white, in skill all useless found, Strong-armed, shall quarrel and shall fight, then I will loose the Hound. When men with hearts of evil full, false and deceitful men, Walk in and out the world about, I'll loose the Black Hound then."

"My mind isn’t easily upset; I’m not easily drawn into the maelstrom. I don’t get angry for long, anger doesn’t last in me. When I do get angry I don’t speak harshly, nor do I advertise my own virtues. I carefully restrain myself out of regard for my own welfare."

"When, lord, Brahma Sanaṅkumāra appears before the Three-and-Thirty gods, he manifests himself as an individual of relatively gross substance which he has specially created. For Brahma’s usual appearance is not sufficiently materialized for the scope of the sight of the Three-and-Thirty gods. And, lord, when Brahma Sanaṅkumāra is manifested before these gods, he outshines the other gods in his appearance and his glory. Just as a figure made of gold outshines the human frame, so, when Brahma Sanaṅkumāra is manifested before the Three-and-Thirty gods, does he outshine the other gods in his appearance and his glory."

"I have also manifested in Jambudvīpa assuming the form of the deity Brahmā, thereby enabling those who serve Brahmā to situate themselves in the true-dharma. Although in truth I was not him, those living beings all assumed that I was the true Brahmā deity. I appeared in the form of deities worshiped widely in local shrines in just this same way."

"Just as Great Brahma is the father of all the sentient beings, in the same way this sutra is the father of all the wise, the noble, those who have more to learn and those who do not, and those in whom the thought of enlightenment has awakened."

"As far as moon and sun revolve in their course And light up all the quarters with their radiance, So far extends the thousand-world system: Here your sway is exercised. But do you know the distinctions? The passionate and dispassionate likewise? The becoming thus, the becoming otherwise, The coming and the going of beings?"

"Mother and father are called "Brahmā" and also "first teachers." They are worthy of gifts from their children, for they have compassion for their offspring."

"The king said: "How far is it, Nāgasena, from here to the Brahma world?" "Very far is it, O king. If a rock, the size of an upper chamber, were to fall from there, it would take four months to reach the earth, though it came down eight-and-forty thousand leagues each day and night.""

"The seer of the destruction of birth, Compassionate, knows the one-way path By which in the past they crossed the flood, By which they will cross and cross over now."

"The Tathagatas are to be venerated thus: "Rise up, O hero, victor in battle! O caravan leader, debt-free one, wander in the world. Teach the Dhamma, O Blessed One: There will be those who will understand.""

"Indra was the god of the thunderstorm that puts an end to the oppressive summer heat and opens the rainy season.... However, the Buddha arrived just in time for Indra to play a role in his career. it was Indra himself who persuaded the freshly awakened Shakyamuni to start preaching his newfound path. Buddhist monks then spread the cult of Indra to foreign lands as far as Japan. Indra’s weapon, the lightning or vajra, became the emblem of instant Enlightenment. The sought-after “Self-nature” (Chinese zixing) is present all the time, deep in all of us; but when we embark on the path of meditation and finally awaken to it, it strikes like lightning."

"Whether you are in the luminous realm of Heaven or in the domain of the sea, whether in the station of the Earth or in the atmosphere, come to us, Indra (VIII.97.5)."

"Not ceasing, not coming to rest, his body is hidden in the middle of their depths. The waters move around the secret body of the serpent. Indra's enemy lies in extended darkness (I.32.10)."

"Indra and Soma, the serpent, the withholder of the waters, you slew. You destroyed the dragon and Heaven approved. You sent forth the flood of the rivers and filled manifold seas (VI.72.2)."

"To Indra I direct my songs in an unceasing flow, like waters from the bottom of the sea (X.89.4)."

"You destroyed the dragon who withheld the waters. Earth in her awareness furthered your thunderbolt. You gave energy to the ocean-going floods. You became the Lord through strength, thou daring hero (IV.16.7)."

"You slew the serpent who encompassed the floods. You released the waters to the ocean (VI.30.4)."

"To Indra and Agni, like the seer Nabhaka, direct your prayers, who poured out the sea with seven foundations, whose opening is above (VIII.40.5).16"

"As rivers to the ocean strong hymns and songs have entered Indra whose extent is vast (VI.36.3)."

"Indra, an ocean of wealth (I.51.1)."

"The Soma drops, like rivers into the sea enter into Indra (III.40.4)."

"Indra has an extent like the sea."

"Indra stands accused (of destroying the Harappan civilization)."

"The legend of Indra’s slaying VRtra… in the Vedas is merely an allegorical narrative of the production of rain. VRtra, sometimes also named Ahi, is nothing more than the accumulation of vapour condensed or figuratively shut up in, or obstructed by, a cloud. Indra, with his thunderbolt, or atmospheric or electrical influence, divides the aggregate mass, and vent is given to the rain which then descends upon the earth."

"Shiva is by no means a non-Vedic god, and Indra never really disappeared from popular Hinduism but lives on under another name."

"Temples were built in ancient times in Tamilnadu for worshipping Indra. Grand festivals were celebrated by the Tamil kings in honor of Indra, the “the national hero of the Aryans.’ Indra was so much cherished by the Tamil people, that priority of worship was given to him in the great Epic Silappadikaram’ – the epic of the Anklet. Besides, references to Indra worship are found in Tholkapiam (600 BCE) Purananuru, Paripadal Aingurunuru and Pattupaddu, all belonging to the Sangam period. Certainly Seran Senguttuvan, his brother Illango Adikal, and, above all, the great Sangam Poets were not naïve as to accept Indra the lord of the Aryans who were the enemies of the Dravidians as their God, How can historians reconcile these contradictory views?"

"All songs give increase to Indra who is as expansive as the sea."

"All songs give increase to Indra who is as expansive as the sea (I.11.1)."

"Indra has an extent like the sea (I.30.3)."

"Indra, extensive as the sea (1.52.4)."

"Hymns to Indra like the ocean in their convergence (I.56.2)."

"He slew the dragon lying at the foot of the mountain. The creator fashioned for him his flashing thunderbolt. As milch cows bellowing as they flowed, directly the waters entered the ocean."

"He slew the dragon lying at the mountain. The creator fashioned for him his flashing thunderbolt. As milch cows bellowing as they flowed, directly the waters entered the ocean (I.32.2)."

"By which you released the great floods to the ocean, Indra that power of yours is vigorous (VIII.3.10)."

"As rivers according to their impulse go forth, the floods as if chariot borne entered into the sea. As rivers uniting to the sea, to Indra they carry the well- pressed Soma (III.36.6-7)."

"The thunderbolt lies within the ocean enclosed by the waters (VIII. 100.9)."

"Indra, not by the seas or mountains is your chariot contained (II. 16.3)."

"Whether in the east, the south, the north or the west you are called by men, come quickly with your powers; whether you exult yourself on the slope of Heaven in the Sun-world or in the ocean of Soma (VIII.65.2-3)."

"Come to us quickly, Indra, from Heaven or Earth, from the ocean or the heavenly sea (IV.21.3)."

"In the slope of the mountains, in the concourse of the rivers, by the power of the hymn the sage (Indra) was born. Hence, arisen conscious he looks down upon the sea, from which awakening he stirs (VIII.6.28-9)."

"...the religious texts indicate that the word 'Brahm' refers to "Brahmi" or Saraswati, the Goddess of Knowledge. For this reason, since ancient times young students were taught the Vedas early in the morning."

"In the Devi Bhagwat, it is said that Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh hold Saraswati in great reverence. Whoever makes offerings and prays to Sarasvati is blessed with thorough knowledge just like her vehicle, the swan. Every year in the Hindu month of Magh when Vasant Panchami is celebrated, it is customary to offer Saraswati special rituals and prayers."

"According to the Puranas, it is said that a lotus emerged from the navel of Lord Vishnu. Brahma was seated on the lotus. Thereafter, he proceeded to create mankind. Brahma, Saraswati, Lakshmi and other gods and goddesses have used the lotus as a seat. When it was important to them, could it be any less to others?"